Wine by Design

A new book explores how one interior designer segued into the wine industry

Interior designer Marco Pasanella's decision to open a wine shop in the storefront below his family's Manhattan apartment wasn't just about merging his passions for decor and the grape—it was "a reaffirmation of what design is suppose to be about: making daily life a little better," Pasanella writes in his new book, Uncorked. Part-memoir, part-guidebook to the world of wine, the story follows Pasanella as he goes from esteemed designer—known for his nautical-inspired design of the Maritime Hotel and his sideways rocking chair on display at the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum—to wine industry neophyte, then respected proprietor of a shop, Pasanella and Son, Vintners. He shares his discoveries along the way, including the differences between European and American wine making (they tend to mix grapes, while we lean towards pure wines), as well as the surprisingly large role wholesale superstore Costco plays in the business. Throughout, Pasanella features Italian-inspired recipes for treats such as fried sage leaves and homemade limoncello. An index of wine world misconceptions and best practices make for the perfect digestif. Post-reading, you'll want to uncork your favorite bottle, but it's likely that Pasanella's infectious curiosity and enviable mastery will also inspire you to make bolder moves next time you're at the wine shop.